Locking mechanism for power operated can opener



Sept 9, 1.958 c. E. DoDD Erm. 2,850,799

v LOCKING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED' CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 21, 1957United States Patent() LOCKING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED The presentinvention relates `to a locking device for power operated can openers,and more particularly to a device for locking the can opener in canopening position.

The -primary object of the invention is to provide a power operated canopener with means for releasably locking the can opener when in canopening position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism forpower operated can openers which is inexpensive to manufacture, simpleto use and which will effectively lock the can opener in openingposition on a can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power operated canopener having means for locking the drive gears thereof in drivingengagement during the opening of a can.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssection taken alongthe line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken alongthe line 4--4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, thereference numeral indicates generally a power operated can openerconstructed in accordance with the invention.

The can opener 10 includes an elongated generally rectangular uprightplate 11 secured at its opposite ends to standards 12 and 13,respectively, by securing elements 14. The plate 11 is provided at itslower edge with a forwardly extending strengthening flange 15 integrallyformed therewith.

A generally rectangular locking plate 16 is positioned against the faceof the plate 11 opposite the ange 15 intermediate the standards 12 and13 and secured thereto by means of securing elements 17. The lockingplate 16 extends from the top to the bottom of the plate 11, as can beseen in Figure 4.

A tubular bushing 18 extends perpendicularly through the plate 11 andthe locking plate 16 and extends beyond each side thereof. A shaft 19 isjournalled in the bushing 18 and has one end 19a extending therebeyondfor reasons to be assigned. A drive gear 20 is positioned on theopposite end of the shaft 19 and has an integrally formed collar 21extending axially thereof.

A can drive cog 22 is integrally formed with the collar 21 in spacedparallel relation to the drive gear 20 and positioned outwardly thereofwith relation to the shaft 19. The end portion 19a of the shaft 19 isadapted to be connected to the power unit of a food mixer, or otherpower drive mechanism, so as to revolve the shaft 19, the drive gear 20,and the can drive cog 22.

The plate 11 is provided with a boss 23 extending F'ice oppositely ofthe lock plate 16 and being of generally cylindrical form. The boss 23is provided with a peripheral groove 24 adjacent the outer end thereof.The plate 11 is provided with a'bore 25 extending therethrough in axialalignment with the bore 23. The locking plate 16 is provided with a bore26 axially aligned with the bore 25. A rshaft 27 jis journalled in thebores 25 and 26 and is provided with a square shank outer end portion 28terminating in a knob 29, as lbest seen in Figure 3. A

The locking plate 16 is provided with a generally horizontal slot 30extending thereacross and into which the bore 26 opens. A bar 31 issecured to the end of the shaft 27 by means of a securing element 32.The bar 31 has a dimension such that it is seated within the slot 30 inone position, and can be moved out of the slot 30 by axial movement ofthe Vshaft 27.

The shaft 27 adjacent the square shank portion 28 thereof is providedwith a cross pin 33 and has a coil spring 34 positioned thereaboutbetween the plate 11 and the cross pin 33 to normally bias the shaft 27in a direction to seat the bar 31 in the slot 30.

A lever 35 is provided with an enlarged end portion 36 journalled on theboss 23 and secured thereon by means of a set screw 37 engaging in theannular groove 24. The enlarged portion 36 on the end of the lever 35 isprovided with an axial square hole 38 through which the square shank 28extends to lock the shaft 27 to the lever 35 with respect to rotationalmovement of the shaft 27 about its own axis. The lever 35, at the endthereof opposite the enlarged portion 36, is provided with a laterallyextending offset handle member 39 providing means for moving the lever35 about the boss 23.

A shaft 40 is ixedly secured to the lever 35 at a point adjacent to butspaced from the enlarged portion 36 with the shaft 40 sloping downwardlyat an angle to the horizontal. A gear 41 is journalled on the shaft 40in position thereon to mesh with the gear 20 with the lever 35 in theposition illustrated in Figures l, 3 and 4.

The gear 41 has a square shank portion 42 extending laterally therefromon which is mounted a square socketed shank 43 of a cutter blade 44. Thesquare shank 42 and the square socketed shank 43 lock the gear 41 andthe cutter blade 44 together for rotation on the shaft 40. A collar 45is secured to the outer end of the shaft 40 by means of a spring clip 46to secure the cutter 44 and gear 41 on the shaft 40.

The plate 11 has a vertical guide 47 struck outwardly therefrom, and ahorizontal guide 48 struck upwardly therefrom, as can be seen in Figuresl and 2.

As can be seen in Figures l, 3 and 4, the guides 47 and 48 assist inpositioning a can, shown in dotted lines at 49, in the can opener 10 foropening thereby.

In the use and operation of the invention, the knob 29 is pressedinwardly moving the bar 31 out of the slot 30 and permitting the lever35 to be moved upwardly disengaging the gear 41 from the gear 20, andthe cutter blade 44 from the can 49. t

A can 49 with cover intact is then positioned in engagement with the cog22 and the guides 47 and 48, and the lever 35 is moved downwardly tocause the cutter 44 to pierce the can 49 and the gear 41 to engage thegear 20.

When the gears 20 and 41 have meshed, the bar 31 will have lbecomealigned with the slot 3l? and the spring 34 will move the bar 31 intolocking engagement within the slot 30, thus locking the can opener inopening position. Obviously, the power mechanism (not shown) connectedto the end 19a of the shaft 19 will then be operated to rotate thecutter 44 and open the can 49.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous 3 structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of therappended claims. t

What is claimed is:

l. In a power operated can opener an upright plate, a lever pivotallymounted on said plate, a cutting mechanism mounted on said lever, meanson said plate for supporting and rotating a can in engagement with saidcutting mechanism, a locking plate iixed to said upright plate on theside thereof opposite said lever and a movable lock mounted on saidlever Yfor releasable locking connection with said locking plate.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided engagingsaid upright plate and said lock for normally biasing said lock intolocking position.

3. A power operated can opener comprising a vertical plate, a drive gearjournalled on said plate and having means associated therewith foreffecting rotation thereof, means connected to said drive` gear forsupporting and rotating a can, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate,cutting means'journalled on said lever Aand engageable with said drivegear and adapted for cutting engagement with a can supported on said cansupporting and rotating means, a locking shaft keyed to said lever andextending through said plate, a locking plate mounted on said rst namedplate oppositely of said lever, said locking plate having a slot formedtherein, a locking bar mounted on said locking shaft engageable in saidslot for releasably locking said lever to lsaid locking plate againstrotation with respect thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said locking shaft is.normally biased in a direction to engage said locking bar in said slot.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a coil spring is engaged oversaid locking shaft and normally biases said locking shaft in a directionto seat said locking bar in said slot.

No references cited.

